Crusaders 3-1 FK Liepaja

Crusaders beat FK Liepaja 3-1 to take control of their Europa League 1st Qualifying round tie.

Goals from Lowry, Carvill and Owens put the home side clear, before a superb strike earned the Latvians what could prove to be a vital away goal.

With the exception of that consolation effort, the home side were in control for virtually the entire game.

With 13 minutes gone, Michael Carvill floated a free kick to the back post and onto the head of Jordan Owens – so often the route to a Crusaders goal. On this occasion though, his effort was blocked, and Paul Heatley fired the follow up over the bar from a tight angle.

5 minutes later, the home side went close again in a frantic goalmouth scramble following a corner.

The breakthrough came just before the half hour mark on the back of a throw in by fullback Rodney Brown. It was nodded on before falling kindly for Philip Lowry, who confidently slammed a volley beyond the Liepaja keeper from close range.

Crusaders extended their lead with 35 on the clock. They attacked in numbers and the ball eventually broke for Snoddy on the edge of the box. He found the space to tee up Carvill who smashed in a low effort from 20 yards.

The visitors showed a rare moment of attacking threat when Torress tried his luck with a long range free kick. It was saved, but spilled, by home keeper Brian Jensen, but Grebis sliced his follow up wildly over the bar.

After the break, Liepaja didn’t exactly increase the pressure, and the game began to pass them by. Sloppy defending lead to a Crusaders corner, which in turn lead to their 3rd goal.

Carvill clipped it towards the penalty spot where it was met by the head of returning captain Colin Coates. His effort was blocked, but it fell to the feet of Owens who placed his shot into the bottom corner.

It could have put the tie to bed, but the visitors grabbed an away goal just after the hour mark. Karasausks collected the ball wide left after a short corner, and crashed in a long range effort which clipped in off the underside of the bar.

Just 5 minutes later, substitute Kurtiss flicked a header against the crossbar with Jensen beaten again.

Liepaja rallied and Kurtiss almost scored a spectacular volley on the turn with 2 minutes left to play - but Jensen got a strong hand behind it to turn it over the bar and make sure of the result.